Ricky Gervais zings the Hollywood elite at the Golden Globes

Ricky Gervais may not have been as provocative last night as he was at last year’s Golden Globes, but he had the Hollywood elite squirming in their chairs. During his opening monologue, some of them wouldn’t even look at him for fear they were going to be his next target. Others refused to laugh, no matter how funny he was. After all, they’re used to being revered, to having their every wish granted, to compliments being paid left and right. Kudos to Jodie Foster for being a good sport, giving him a thumbs up when he cracked a joke in reference to her movie The Beaver, saying he had never seen her “Beaver,” adding that not many men had. Fellow Brit Colin Firth also took Ricky’s barbs in stride. When Ricky introduced him, saying he didn’t understand why so many women were so attracted to him, or why the critics sang his praises, he added, tongue in cheek: “But what you don’t know about him is, he’s very racist. In private I mean really nasty stuff. He also, I’ve seen him punch a little blind kitten. Please welcome the evil Colin Firth.” Colin replied, “As I was on my way in I noticed some very angry religious people outside with big placards threatening us all with brimstone and pestilence and perdition for our sins. What they don’t realize is we have Ricky.” When Johnny Depp walked on stage to present, Ricky said to him: “I want to ask you a question. And be honest. Are you on recreational drugs? I’m joking, that’s not the question. And we all know the answer. Have you seen The Tourist yet?”

As for the winners, there were a number of surprises last night, unlike last year. Meryl Streep won her eighth Golden Globe for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Ladyand even she looked surprised, forgetting to bring her glasses on stage to read her acceptance speech. Up against Glenn Close, who convincingly portrays a woman who passes as a man in Victorian England in Albert Nobbs; and Viola Davis, who deserves every bit of acclaim she’s won for her performance in The Help, Streep’s win was unexpected. Ditto for The Descendants, which won Motion Picture, Drama. The winner in this category usually goes on to win the Best Picture category at the Academy Awards, but with movies like The Help and The Artist in contention, it will be interesting to see which one Academy voters choose. Following the photo gallery is a complete list of Golden Globe winners:

Emma Stone

George Clooney

Meryl Streep

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Piper Perabo

Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman and Sidney Poitier

Uggie, the dog from The Artist

Madonna

Octavia Spencer

Peter Dinklage

Jodie Foster

Host Ricky Gervais

Julianna Margulies

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Colin Firth

Claire Danes

Motion Picture, DramaThe Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse

Best Director – Motion PictureMartin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
George Clooney, The Ides of March
Michel Hazanvicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture – DramaMeryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Tilda Swinton, We Need To Talk About Kevin

Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture, DramaGeorge Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Ryan Gosling, The Ides Of March
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Motion PictureOctavia Spencer, The Help
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role In A Motion PictureChristopher Plummer, Beginners
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

Best Foreign Language FilmA Separation (Iran)
The Flowers of War (China)
In the Land of Blood and Honey (USA)
The Kid With A Bike (Belgium)
The Skin I Live In (Spain)

Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series – Comedy Or MusicalMatt LeBlanc, Episodes
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
David Duchovny, Californication
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
Thomas Jane, Hung

Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series – DramaClaire Danes, Homeland
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Madeleine Stowe, Revenge
Callie Thorne, Necessary Roughness

Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Series, Mini-Series, or TV MovieJessica Lange, American Horror Story
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Evan Rachel Wood, Mildred Pierce

Best Performance By An Actor in A Supporting Role in A Series, Mini-Series or TV MoviePeter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail
Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce
Tim Robbins, Cinema Verite
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Best Performance By An Actor In A Mini-Series or TV MovieIdris Elba, Luther
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
William Hurt, To Big to Fail
Bill Nighy, Page Eight
Dominic West, The Hour

Best Television Series – DramaHomeland, Showtime
American Horror Story, FX
Boardwalk Empire, HBO
Boss, STARZ
Game of Thrones, HBO

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Comments & Discussion

agree many appeared fearful, others striving to look unimpressed. Foster/Firth were a breath of fresh air in the me crowd…

found most jokes tame, was expecting more raunch in light of the big build up, thought he did an admirable job…

C-Dub • January 17, 2012 @ 8:24 PM

I thought Matt Leblanc proved it best when he was interviewed after his award and he said he met Ricky and asked him flat out since he was up for an award if he was going to be targeted and Ricky said no, you’re safe. And Matt Leblanc put on a good smile from relief.
Gervais has a nasty tongue and I’m glad they let him drink too! It helps add fodder to the fire and an element of will he swear and REALLY make it roast-worthy nasty.
I think he does a great job. Bring him back every year.